Consumers came out in droves on Black Friday, often with aggressive shopping strategies, to shatter records on the single biggest shopping day ever. Sales rose 6.6 percent over last year's Black Friday numbers, totalling a massive $11.4 billion one day take in retail sales, according to the research firm ShopperTrak. The group credited a steady and strong month of November, and aggressive strategies from stores to lure "value-conscious" shoppers. “Despite our sluggish economy, shoppers proved they are looking for value and ready to buy if given a good customer experience," said Shoppertrak founder Bill Martin in their statement on this year's numbers. Midnight door-crashing deals from chain stores like Walmart, Macy's and Toys R Us are getting the credit for bringing customers out in such huge numbers, according to Bloomberg. Online sales skyrocketed up 24 percent over last year. Most of the holiday season's online shopping traditionally happens on the Monday after Thanksgiving, what's come to be known as Cyber Monday, when people return to work -- and a better internet connection.

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Connor Simpson is a former staff writer for The Wire. His work has appeared in Business Insider and City Lab.